He was born May 9, 1925, in Carthagena, to Fred and Josephine Uhlenhake Severt. On Nov. 27, 1952, he married Mary Ann Gross, who survives.

Also surviving are four sons, Joseph (Peggy) and Fred, all of Coldwater, Charles (Ann), Buford, Ga., and David (Gail), Wakefield, Mass; three daughters, Diane (Jerry) Prenger, Coldwater, Peggy (Tom) Berning, Tipp City, and Shirley (Dan) Siefring, St. Henry; two brothers, Art and Ralph, both of Coldwater; two sisters, Mary Ann Seitz and Mildred Griesdorn, both of Coldwater; a brother-in-law, Robert Fleck, Chickasaw; two sisters-in-law, Josie Severt, Rockford, and Anna Severt, Coldwater; and 18 grandchildren.

Deceased are three brothers, Victor, Wilfred and Ed; a sister, Esther Fleck; two brothers-in-law, Dan Seitz and Ralph Griesdorn; a sister-in-law, Esther Severt; and a grandchild.

He was a retired co-owner and operator of Coldwater Grain Co. and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, its men's Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus Council 1991 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5135, all of Coldwater.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Daniel Schmitmeyer officiating. Burial is at St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater.